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📖 Part 1: The Essential Guide to EDM Festivals

Intro​

A festival is a great environment to relax, open up, learn things about yourself and the world, and have a fun time doing it. It's a unique place where one can meet together with others under the commonality of the love for music. Come with high expectations, and none will be met. Come with an open mind and heart, and there’s a chance the rave gods will make your festival experience an epic one.

The people​

Arguably the most important part of a festival, the ravers make up much of the experience. Festivals attract some of the most wholesome, inspiring, and giving people out there. However, not everyone will have the same mindset of friendliness or PLUR. Come with a negative view, you'll find nothing but the worst in people and find those with a similar mindset. Come with a positive attitude and mindset, you'll find nothing but the friendliest and find the best in people. Hold a giving and thriving mindset, spread good vibes to those around you, and you may see why some fall in love with these events.

Basics​

Wristband​

  • By registering your wristband with your personal and emergency contact info, in case something happens to you, staff can use this to identify you.

  • Don’t put your wristband on until the day of the festival, as it won't easily come off once you realized you’ve tightened it too much. A very common thing newcomers do.

Flights​

Sites such as Google Flights and Skyscanner can help you to find the best combination of airline prices and flight times. You can set email alerts with Google Flights and get notified of price changes on a flight route or flight schedule.

Set Planning​

You'll have list of artists you’d like to see, but because of group dynamics, distances between stages, or set schedule conflicts, plans can change. The bigger the festival, the more likely set time conflicts will happen. It can be enjoyable when you go with the flow with your group. But don’t let that stop you from doing your own thing! As long as you’ve a meet up spot, you won’t lose your group.

Meet Up Spot​

So many art installations aka meet up spots!

Cell phone service can widely vary and be affected because of the sudden influx of people in an area over a weekend. For events located in cities, they have a higher chance of getting signal, whereas those located in speedways or suburbs have a lower possibility. For bigger festivals, I recommend having a meetup spot planned before hand with your group that you plan to meet at regularly or whenever someone goes missing. It also helps to go as a group to the meetup spot the first time you are in the festival so that everyone knows the exact location of the meetup spot to meet at.

Avoiding Ticket Scammers​

I highly recommend purchasing a festival ticket through the promoter themselves to guarantee that you’ll have a legitimate ticket. Depending on the event, official ticket resale programs are offered by the promoter. In the case that an event sells out and you end up having to purchase from a third party, there are ways to check if someone seems legit or not.

How to check a Facebook ticket sale post

Pickpockets​

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

It’s so bad, it needs its own section. Pickpockets run rampant with a growing number of incidents at festivals with no end in sight. Festivals are a candy land for thieves, who are armed with the knowledge that most people are in a different state of mind and constantly distracted by everything going on around them.

They usually work in organized teams, where one person distracts a target, another is responsible for swiping the phone, handing it off to a mule that holds all the stolen phones. That way, if one member gets caught, they won’t have the device with them and can’t easily be blamed. Be aware of your belongings, especially in areas where people are packed like a can of sardines. Situations like going to the bathroom after a popular set ends, moving through the crowd and bumping into people, and a random person hopping around your group, are some of the scenarios I've met pickpockets at. They use the regularity of other people bumping into each other to hide the feeling of their hands going into your pockets.

The best thing you can do is be proactive and reduce the amount of harm/damage in the chances your phone gets snatched. Your phone is replaceable. Your pictures and data are not.

You can find more info on pickpockets in the additional section here

Prepare for the weather​

Check the weather in advance and pack accordingly. I highly recommend not to go in with assumptions. EDCLV 19', 23' was a prime example of this, originally assuming it's always hot in Vegas, and then being hit with 20 mph+ winds and 60-degree temperatures at night. Ultra 24', 25' had thunderstorms and heavy pouring rain, which created puddles and wet soil around the festival grounds. You would be drenched in water as well as have waterlogged socks and shoes. And there continues to be an uptick of rain and weather messing with other festivals around the world.

With global warming on the rise, depending on the location, pack a pair of pants, extra socks/shoes, and or/ a light jacket or sweater.

To prepare for sudden weather changes while at the venue, I also recommend carrying a poncho or reflective space blanket, and plastic bag covers for your shoes.

Rain Shoe Covers | Waterproof Shoe Covers

This site Weather History & Data Archive can give you a ballpark of what kind of weather and temperatures to expect for the weekend in a given area. Input the city and state or zip code, the festival date, go back a year, and switch to weekly view. This is important for camping festivals where you’re sleeping outside at night and need to know how cold it can get.

What to wear​

Outfits

Music festivals are a place of free expression; cosplay costumes, themes, and onesies run wild. Thinking about dressing up as a toothpaste tube? Do it! And spread the message of the importance of brushing your teeth. As long as you're wearing something comfortable, loose, and light, you'll be good. Test your outfit if you'll be able to move around and dance, nothing too tight and constricting. And it gets hot in a crowd of people, so generally spring/summer wear, shorts, short sleeve stuff are preferred. Avoid anything heavy or that covers a lot of your skin.

You can get outfit ideas by looking in Instagram – search various hashtags of the music festival (like #EDCLV, #Ultra) to get ideas, or search up a venue's address to view posts by location.

Shoes​

Wear some sort of sneakers or running shoes, a pair that will feel comfortable after dancing and walking for miles. They can get dirty, especially if it rains and it gets muddy. Avoid wearing any open toe flats or slippers, as you can have your feet accidentally stepped on the dance floor throughout the night. It might not look as nice, but function over form, your feet will thank you after stomping on concrete for hours. Boots can be useful for festivals on grass or camping festivals.

If you need a shoe recommendation, one shoe that comes up repeatedly by festival veterns are Adidas Ultraboosts. And I have a pair of black Ultraboosts 1.0s. 😂 (I recommend the 1.0s, all the future revisions add height/boost that i've disliked)

And lastly, don’t forget to wear some deodorant, or you may encounter the deodorant guy

Mind and Body​

It's a Marathon, not a Race​

A festival can be taxing on the body, and it gets worse with age 😭. Dancing for hours, with 6 or less hours of sleep, eating not-so nutritious food, for multiple days in a row, can be a recipe for burn out. So, listen to your body. As ironic as this sounds, even though these events are entertainment/vacation, festivals take a lot out of you both physically, mentally, and sometimes emotionally. Festivals are a workout on its own (no need for a gym membership lol) but don’t let that scare you, you’ll realize what you put in, you'll get back in return.

At a minimum, try not to go hard on a specific day and if you go, be chill at pre-party events before the festival. You don't want it to where you had too much of a blast and couldn't make it to the festival, which is what you're here for.

Drink Water​

The constant dancing plus being in the festival crowd will both heat and dehydrate your body to the extremes, more so if you're drinking and the festival is set during the day. Hydration is the upmost top priority to take care of. This is more important the hotter the weather.

Every music festival has free water station(s) somewhere on the grounds. A reusable water bottle works, or you can buy water bottles at the event. But, if you plan on going to many festival, I highly recommend investing in a hydration pack , which you'll find more info below.

Harm Reduction​

“Drug use is apparent in the dance music scene. While it is generally frowned upon by the rest of society, it has become an accepted element of rave culture if used responsibly. People need to learn how to take drugs responsibly to not only keep themselves safe but those around them”

If you do choose to partake, please practice safety with substances. Websites such as Rollsafe.org, Tripsafe.org, and DanceSafe will have all the info you need. Please take it upon yourself to care for your body and health and not become another statistic.

You can always take more. You can never take less.

Rest day after the festival​

So, you might have work/class on Monday, so you have to leave on Sunday after the festival. But I highly recommend having a rest day afterr the festival. Either head home Monday night or take all of Monday off. First, something can (and will) happen on Sunday that leaves you ill for the next day, sometimes unpreventable. Second, the buildup of lack of rest and nutrition will hit the hardest on Monday. There is such a thing as post-festival blues. You’ll also want an extra day to readjust your sleep cycle, and slowly transition back into the real world.

Otherwise, you can make Sunday a chill day, don’t drink and dance as hard, leave the festival early, and sleep more to have your Monday more tolerable.

Sunscreen​

Sunscreen is a must for daytime festivals! Apply some cream sunscreen throughout your body before the festival. Spray-on sunscreen isn't recommended as it's common to incorrectly apply it and thus miss spots and areas on the skin. For your face, I recommend, Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery 50 g Sunscreen SPF 50 + / PA ++++. It goes on lightly and my skin feels fresh and dewy, versus other American based formulation that are heavy.

Medical Staff​

If you or a friend feels dehydrated, ill, on the verge of passing out, or unconscious, PLEASE do not hesitate to find medical attention from medical staff. All festivals have an onsite medical team in a medical tent, paid for and trained to deal with situations like these. You won't be charged or need health insurance and you will not get in trouble.

There are good samaritan laws in all US States (except Texas) that provide legal protection for individuals who seek medical attention for a drug overdose victim, including the person who overdosed, and those who call for help. Additionally, Federal law prohibits your doctor from telling the police about your drug use. This law, called the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records, 42 CFR Part 2, has been in effect since 1975.

Essential Items​

Hydration Pack​

To carry around your belonging and to have water, there are bags called hydration paks that have a bladder and tube that you can drink water from. Originally made for runners and hikers, these are also useful for festivals.

I personally recommend a hydration pack called Lunchbox. It was designed with features tailored for festivals. A mesh stretchable pocket on each of the shoulder straps to allow easy access to your phone and prevent phone theft, removable/customizable skins outer skin, 2 compartment storage that complys with festival bag rules. It's well made and every bit of the bag looks to be well thought out.

After testing and owning one for 3 years, I've never had my phone stolen, the slide clip water bladder has held up, and it stores everything I've mentioned, including a folding fan on the side.

I recommend investing in a good bag if you plan on attending many festivals, since a quality bag will hold up to wear and tear of festival life. They get beat around a lot, compared to a regular bookbag you may have for normal life. Things like bumping into people in festival crowds, jumping up and down, as well as being washed in the laundry machine after every festival.

Fannypack​

If a Hydration Pack is too big and cumbersome for you, a fannypack style bag also an option that can hold a water bladder. Lunchbox also makes a version of this themselves as well.

Ear Protection​

These are a must, sound levels at stages can go over 110 decibels and damage your hearing! And once the cochlea hairs in your ear drum get damaged (they're responsible for converting sound waves to something your brain can use) they don’t heal back, so hearing loss is permanent. One earplug I recommend are Etymotic High Fidelity Earplugs, ER20 ETY-Plugs ($22). I've used them for years, and they reduce sound levels without compromising on clarity as much as other types of earplugs. They also offer a variety of sizes.

Be aware that using these don't fully prevent hearing loss, they only allow extended listening time before there starts to be damage to your ears. So, you should still avoid being too close to speakers and take breaks from the stage if possible.

A basic version of earplugs are foam ones, since they block out the sound in a way that removes fidelity. They can be easily found in drugstores, and you can possibly get these at the medical tent inside the festival.

Custom fit earplugs​

If you do plan on going to many festivals, I recommend investing in a quality pair, custom molded earplugs to your ear canal. They're used by the artists and DJ's themselves to mitigate the constant abuse of sound waves from touring. Because it's custom fit, you barely feel them in your ear and can wear them a lot longer. They provide a perfect fit and better seal, which provides greater decibel reduction, and the best sounding result in fidelity and clarity compared to other earplugs. However, they do cost a lot more, starting at $180+ a pair, plus the cost of ear canal moldings by an audiologist.

If you’re interested about getting a pair, check out http://1of1custom.com

Anti-Theft Items​

Flip Belt/Runners Belt​

Originally made as a belt to secure a runner's belongings, this can also be used to keep your phone secure onto your body. This can prevent pickpockets from getting to your phone and wallet! It's a semi-elastic band that goes over your waist and securely holds your phone and wallet snug onto your body. To be aware, this can conflict with your festival outfit, as it goes around your waist. Classic Flipbelt

Phone tether​

A phone tether is a retractable wire with one end clipping on to yourself, and the other end clipping onto your phone. However, I've heard of reports of thieves having tools to cut the wires, so I wouldn't recommend it solely for anti-theft. Only to prevent accidentally dropping or having your phone slip out to the ground.

Additional Things​

Tissues/Wet Wipes - In case the porta-potties are out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. so, bringing your own can help with cleanliness. You can find travel size packs of tissues in the travel section of toiletries in a store.

Poncho - In case it rains, you'll be dry. A basic one can be found for $1 at the camping section of your local Wal-Mart. A step up of a poncho would be a reflective/space blanket poncho. Can also keep you warm in situations where the weather takes an unexpected turn and it’s cold and windy

Electrolyte Tablets - Helps replenish minerals lost from sweating and dehydration from the large amount of dancing, and more so if in hot and humid environments. Sports drinks can be a good alternative, but those are full of sugar, while Electrolyte Tablets have none. Helps prevent cramps, heat stroke, and even over hydration. I personally use Nuun Tablets.

note

If using these with a water bladder/hydration pack, I recommend cleaning and rinsing the water bladder and running water through the hose after the event. The sugar and other ingredients in the tablets can cause mold to grow.

Bandana - Festivals that are in a field can get dusty from people dancing and kicking up dirt into the air. A bandana can help prevent dust from clogging up your nose and lungs.

Sunglasses - Shield your eyes, especially at open field daytime festivals whose schedules occur mostly during the day. They are also nice if you're sensitive to the stage lights and laser at night time festivals.

**Vicks Inhaler / Boom Boom **

Gum

caution

Depending on festival rules, most consumables must be new and sealed, else under security's discretion, may be taken up by them. Check out the FAQ guide on your festival’s website for a list of allowed/prohibited items and rules.

Enhance your experience​

Folding hand fan​

One of my most favorite items, a hand fan has many uses!

  1. If it gets hot, you can fan yourself to keep your body temperature low and avoid heat stroke
  2. As you fan yourself, people around you also benefit from the breeze as a side effect. I can't count the number of times people went up to me to say thank you for cooling them down
  3. If you're trying to walk through a crowd away from a stage, by fanning people as you walk out, people will appreciate the breeze and move out of the way for you
  4. Can be a last-minute totem to help guide your group through the crowd or for people to find you
  5. Shade over your eyes when it's very sunny

I recommend checking out clackthatfan.com for festival fans. Personally, I also use a fan holster that straps to your leg and allows easy storage and deployment of a fan. Here's one I use:

Pashmina​

Typically linked to a subculture of the EDM community (wooks/heady), this silky scarf is hugely popular for its wide range of uses. Some include:

  1. Mat so you can sit on festival grounds
  2. Shade your body/head during the sunny hours of the day (helped when I got sunburned one time and the cover helped tremendously)
  3. Blanket when it gets cold or windy
  4. Blocks the wind when lighting a cigarette
  5. Accessorize your outfit/makes you look majestic

A pashmina is one of those items where it’s uses become discovered by the owner the longer they have it. The swiss army knife of festival life.

External Battery Pack​

Keep your phone charged for all those pictures and videos you'll be taking. I personally have this INIU Portable Charger

For iPhone users, I recommend MagSafe Battery Packs, they magnetically attach to your phone and charge wirelessly. Here's one I personally use Anker MagGo Power Bank (5K, Slim) What's so nice about this one is that it's not bulky and no cables are needed, and it's so nice to hold your phone while it's charging.

Side note: if you have a hydration pack and a Magsafe battery pack, you can leave the battery pack in the mesh pocket shoulder strap, and slip it in and out of the pocket with it charging wirelessly, without needing to handle a dangling cord. When I discovered this accidentally, I was amazed.

caution

If you're flying in for the event, it is prohibited by the FAA to fly with portable battery packs in checked luggage. Be sure you have it in your carry on when boarding your flight, else the TSA may take it.

Packing List​

Here’s a packing list that you can use to create your own with and use as a reference. It has all the items mentioned plus everything that I personally pack for a festival, feel free to use it as a template and expand for your needs!

Packing List

Something from you​

What I suggest, is to bring something that represents you.

  • Are you a nurse/doctor? Bring medical supplies like band-aids or ibuprofen/Advil.
  • A dentist/hygienist? Give out kandi with floss attached to them!
  • An artist/creative? Make something to wear or to use and bring it to the festival! Or make a necklace to trade! Wraps are a common thing. Kandi/Totems are another way to show your creative side!
  • Are you a headbanger who likes to break necks? Bring some hot and cold pads, a favorite endorsed by DJ Diesel.
  • Are you a cool person? Bring a bunch of mini foldable fans and give them to someone hot! (I promise this will be the only dad joke)

Of course, you don’t have to be any of these things to be allowed to bring it. But I feel it means more if it’s something you’re into or passionate about, people will appreciate what you have to offer to the world.

Additional Tips​

  • Have the day's lineup as the lock screen background on your phone

    • I go to the official festival website or social media account and save the images from there. Sometimes, if you look at the subreddit for the festival, someone will have made lock screen sized schedules for the lineup. Then, the schedule is just a button press away

  • Make security's job easier to search you

    • When you get to the security search checkpoint, unzip all the pockets on your bag before you approach the security guard. Every festival I've went to, everyday I went through security, they've checked the bag swiftly and let me through. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I've never once had anything taken away or been searched deeply. My theory on this is that if the guard sees I'm being nice and try to make their job easier, that I'm showing care for them, they're less likely to think I have something in on the prohibited list.

  • If you want merch, get to the booth early as they can sell out of the popular stuff early

  • When going to bathrooms, head to the ones in the back. People tend to crowd in the front ones, which make the bathrooms seem full when they might not be

  • Don’t leave your group without telling someone where you’re going. It sucks being in a situation where someone panics because their boyfriend goes missing and your whole group goes into man hunt mode trying to find you in a crowd of 10,000 people, only to find out they left early and went back to the hotel room and was safe the entire time (as you might be able to tell, this happened to my group and I was annoyed af)

    note

    Most of the products and things mentioned in this guide, I've purchased and own myself! I'm not sponsored by anyone, and I wouldn't recommend anything I wouldn't personally use myself.